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Once a week we’ll send out a page from Cool Tools: A Catalog of Possibilities. The tools might be outdated or obsolete, but the possibilities they inspire are new. Sign up here to get Tools for Possibilities a week early in your inbox.
Math without batteries
Casio FX-115 Solar Calculator, $16 I bought my Casio FX-115 Solar Calculator 25-years ago, probably in Malaysia. It replaced my then aging Texas Instruments calculator. The thing I like most about it is that it doesn’t need batteries. None. You can pull it out of a drawer after a year and it just works. No fretting about whether you left it on or not, and I’ve never needed to replace anything.
The new ones come with a dual solar and battery combo called “solar plus”. Don’t be fooled. The closest new equivalent is probably the Casio FX-260 Solar ($9.99), but that model doesn’t have some of the features of the FX-115.
As far as calculations go, it has pretty much all anyone would need. It has a nice friendly EXP button for scientific notation and infinite levels (18) of parenthesis. It converts and computes in alternate number bases (binary, octal and hex) and does linear regression.
Note: The FX115 comes in two very similar models, the ES and the MS, that feature minor differences. However, it appears that the MS is preferred by some math teachers, and is approved to be used on many licensing exams (where as the ES has in the past not been approved for some engineering exams in California.)
Tried and true number cruncher
HP 10B Business Calculator, $45 HP’s mid-range business calculator has been around for more than 25 years, and it is still the best choice for all but the hardest-core finance, statistical and actuarial uses. For everyday use by business managers doing profit margin, sell/cost, IRR, percentage, mortgage, cash-flow, discount, net present value and so many other common business computations, it offers incredible ease without requiring the user to learn the RPN notation of HP’s higher-end financial calculators.
Everything about the 10B shows an incredible level of attention to design, from the solid rubber feet, perfect tactile keypress response, and easy-to-read, molded-in key labels. And amazingly, my 10B, purchased in 1989, is still going strong on its factory-supplied button batteries, after some 20 years of dependable and regular use.
Loan amortization calculations, even with a computer, can be tedious, but the 10B’s dedicated functions, for all the usual as well as the out-of-the-ordinary loan computations, make such work quick and reliable. As with all functions on the 10B, I simply input the known values using their dedicated keys (for example, number of months, interest rate per year, and loan amount), and then press the key for the unknown value (monthly payment). Change any of the values, and the 10B can re-compute all the remaining figures just as easily.
HP has updated the 10B now to the 10BII, though user reviews on Amazon are not very positive. If you can find a used model on Amazon or eBay, it’s probably the last calculator any businessperson will ever need to buy. – Mike Sullivan
Engineer’s calculator
Texas Instruments TI-89 Titanium Graphing Calculator, $137 I’ve been using a ti89, first the original release and then the titanium release, since I was in high school. It is a calculator for the hardest core of geeks.
Throughout engineering school–I’m working toward my Masters in Mechanical Engineering–I’ve used the programming app to code contours of cam surfaces as well as a host of matrix and kinetics/kinematics programs. It’s a graphing calculator, which allows me to overlay 99 plots of different functions; I can turn on and off different plots to select which functions I’d like to compare.
The ti89 comes standard with a suite of calculus tools such as integration and derivatives, as well as many linear algebra operations. It also comes with support from a Texas Instruments-based free online app store, as well as a programming editor that allows the user to write his own code. There are also preloaded finance and electrical engineering programs.
I own three of these handy calculators: one for my desk at work, another for my desk at home and one for my laptop/school bag. – Benjamin Abruzzo
Advanced calculator on iOS
Quick Graph, iOS I recently returned to school after a long hiatus. While learning pre-calc and calculus, I found Quick Graph for iOS to be the best graphing calculator. It graphs both 2D and 3D functions. The app also handles multiple functions which are allocated different colors automatically. Unlike stand-alone calculators you can zoom in and out with standard pinch gestures, and in 3D you can rotate the graph in any direction. It also helps that the interface is intuitive: for instance to change the color of your function, there is a little arrow bullet in your current color next to your function in the function list: you just click it and it opens a color selection dialog.
The free version is very functional and has no ads or annoyances. The full version gives extra features such as unlimited functions (free is limited to 6) and tracing the graph by tap and hold (it is easy estimate the same data in the free version, but it won’t give you the exact value).
Unfortunately, my iPhone broke and I am now using Android on which I have not found a graphing app of the same level of intuitive design. – Aryeh Abramovitz
At the risk of stating the obvious, there’s no shortage of bratwurst anywhere you go in Wisconsin. Just over the Illinois border in Kenosha, there’s the Brat Stop with its traditional “Our Wurst is Furst!” brat. In Milwaukee, there’s the family-run Usinger’s sausage shop as well as The Brat House, a brew pub that…
Who doesn’t love a good burger recipe for this time of year? Nice Smoked Venison Burger with Beer Cheese by the fire with a cold Keystone Light while wearing that brand new Keystone x Realtree Outdoors Fall Collection!
Smoked Venison Burgers are the Perfect Recipe for Fall
To kick things off, let’s make some crispy bacon. Once that is good, we can clean the skillet and work on the Beer Cheese. Start by making a roux out of butter, seasoning and all purpose flour. When the roux is like a paste consistency, add in that Keystone Light beer and some milk. Mix this all up and then add that mustard and worcestershire sauce. Finish off with freshly grated swiss and cheddar cheese. You want to make sure you use freshly grated cheese because it will break down so much nicer than pre shredded cheese.
When the Beer Cheese is ready to go, it is time to work on the Smoked Venison Burgers!
While a lot of people refer to deer as being venison, that is not the only animal that is a part of that category. Technically, venison can be deer/elk, rabbits, wild boar and even some types of goats. It really refers to wild mammals that are even-toed, hoofed with antlers.
Today, I am using ground whitetail deer from a local hunter. I love the color of venison compared to ground beef because it is distinctively purple-ish with very little fat. Since fat is flavor, we want to be careful not to overcook our burgers!
This is the main reason why I prefer to do Smoked Venison Burgers as we can slowly cook them until they are done to perfection.
Smoked Venison Burgers with Beer Cheese
When it comes to making the Smoked Venison Burgers, we need to form our ground meat into ⅓ lb burger patties. I prefer to make them a little bigger than the normal patties because they will get a little more fat and not dry out as easily. Once formed, make sure to add a little indent into the patties to prevent them from bubbling when cooking! Finally, set the burgers into the fridge for at least 30 minutes so that they set and do not fall apart on the smoker/grill.
When our venison burgers are set, smoke these guys at 275F until they are about 145F internal. I know that a lot of hunters prefer their venison rare. Rare ground beef is unsafe. It is notorious for making people sick when consumed below 160F. Now, I am pulling the burgers at 145F because we will finish them over higher heat to bring them past 160F. After you have seared off your Smoked Venison Burgers, you are ready to start putting everything together!
Build up your Smoked Venison Burger with that Beer Cheese, bacon, sliced jalapenos, crispy onions and more beer cheese. Make sure to use a pretzel bun and serve with tater tots and what is leftover from the cheese! Finally, go and snag the new Fall Collection from Keystone x Realtree Outdoors now. Perfect setup for this fall. Cheers!
For more delicious recipes, check out my second cookbook Flavor X Fire or my first cookbook Food X Fire!
Making some delicious Smoked Venison Burger with Beer Cheese for an epic fall meal. Paired with a light beer, its sure to hit the spot.
Course Main Course
Cuisine American
Keyword Smoked Venison Burgers with Beer Cheese
Prep Time 30 minutes
Cook Time 1 hour 30 minutes
Total Time 2 hours
Servings 4 people
Author Derek Wolf
Cost $40
Ingredients
Venison:
2 lbs Ground Venison
¼ cup Favorite BBQ Seasoning
Canola Oil as needed
Beer Cheese:
1.5 cups Sharp Cheddar shredded
1.5 cups Swiss Cheese shredded
¾ cup Whole Milk
⅔ cup Keystone Beer
½ cup All Purpose Flour
2.5 tbsp Butter
1 tbsp Dijon Mustard
1 tbsp Worcestershire Sauce
1 tbsp Garlic Powder
1.5 tsp Cayenne Powder
Burger:
12 slices Thick Cut Bacon cut in half
2 medium Jalapeños sliced
½ cup Mayonnaise
¼ cup Crispy Onions
Pretzel Buns toasted
Tater Tots for serving
Beer Cheese for serving
Instructions
Preheat your grill for a two-zone indirect cooking method at medium high heat (about 350F).
Form your ground venison into ⅓ lb burger patties making sure to add an intent in the middle preventing the burgers from bubbling. Lather your burger with oil and generously season with your favorite BBQ seasoning. Place the burgers in the fridge for at least 30 minutes to set.
Add a cast iron skillet directly over the high heat from the grill. Cook your bacon in the skillet until nice and crispy, then pull off and let cool. Clean out the skillet and add back to the heat for your beer cheese.
With the skillet back to the grill, keep the temperature around 275F (pull the skillet over to the cooler side in order to achieve this if necessary). Add your butter, flour, garlic powder and cayenne powder to the skillet to melt and mix for 1-2 minutes. Once mixed, slowly add your milk and Keystone Beer in batches to fully integrate them and let the mixture thicken. Once mixed, add your mustard and worcestershire sauce then stir. Finally, add your shredded cheese and keep stirring until fully integrated and smooth. Once the sauce is done, pull it off and keep warm.
Keeping the temperature at 275F, add your burgers to the indirect side of the grill to smoke for about 10-15 minutes until they are about 145F. Once good, add your burgers over the high heat to cook till they are about 160F+ or for about 1.5 minutes per side. When done, pull off and let rest for 5 minutes.
Start building your burger with mayonnaise on the bottom bun, burger patty, some beer cheese, sliced bacon, more beer cheese, sliced jalapenos, crispy onions and top bun. Serve with some tater tots and beer cheese on the side. Enjoy!
The best watch brands today are the opposite of fast fashion. They make timeless pieces meant to be worn often and kept forever. Here, options to invest in for every style and price point.
According to a new paper just made public, researchers at Boston University were able to combine the spike protein from Omicron with the original strain of the virus, to create a new chimera strain that was so deadly it killed 80 percent of the humanized mice that they were testing on.
Using grant funding from both the NIH and the NIAID, the sub-agency led by Dr. Anthony Fauci, these scientists were able to cobble together a new strain of COVID. They dubbed their new creation Omicron S.
Resources:
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Ducati has announced the 2023 Panigale V4 R, a street-legal superbike that now surpasses earlier models as Ducati’s closest production model to a competition motorcycle. With technical solutions derived from MotoGP and WorldSBK Championship bikes, Ducati claims a max 240.5 hp for the updated Panigale V4 R. The 2023 V4 R also features several upgrades over the previous year model.
The maximum horsepower of 240.5 sounds impressive, but it’s a little more complicated than that. A few things have to fall into alignment for that max to be reached. The 2023 Panigale V4 features the 998cc Desmosedici Stradale R engine, seen in previous models.
Ducati claims the Desmosedici Stradale R can reach 16,500 rpm in 6th gear and deliver 207 hp at 13,500 rpm with 82 lb-ft of torque. Add on the racing exhaust, and the Stradale R bumps up to 237 hp, which is 3 hp higher than its predecessor but still 3.5 hp short of the claimed max. To give the Stradale R another boost, Ducati collaborated with Shell to produce a special performance oil that claims a 10% reduction in mechanical friction, bumping the ponies up to 240.5.
The special Shell oil only works because the bike uses a dry clutch. The oil contains racing-type additives that can cause problems with a wet clutch. The clutch on the 2023 Panigale V4 R is new, derived from the version used in the WorldSBK. The diameter and axial length have been reduced by 0.9 in and the weight by 1.8 lb. To help with lubrication, the V4 R features gun-drilled titanium connecting rods, which facilitate oil passage.
Also new to the 2023 model is the lengthened gear ratios. The new ratios are the same as those used by WorldSBK Panigale race bikes and were first seen in production models on the 2022 Panigale V4 S. The ratios are lengthened in 1st (+11.6%), 2nd (+5.6%), and 6th (+1.8%) gears. Ducati says the longer gears offer improved engine management when braking and better acceleration coming out of corners. They also allow the quickshifter to work more effectively.
The V4 R also allows riders to choose from four engine configurations: full, high, medium, and low. Full power mode is exactly what it sounds like: It allows the engine to run its full potential without electronic filters (except for first gear). In medium and high power modes, a Ride by Wire map has calibration for all six gears so riders achieve ideal drive. The low power mode is intended to be used for riding on road and for low-grip surfaces. Low power mode limits the max power to 160 hp and features a more manageable throttle response.
The ride mode is visible on the Track Evo display, first seen on the 2022 Panigale V4. The display features a horizontal tachometer along the top of the dashboard. The gear engaged is in the center of the screen. The display also features lights to indicate when an electronic control is working on a particular parameter, such as the Engine Brake Control and the Dual Quick Shift, making it easier for the rider to figure out what controls are helping and what controls have been working against the rider in any given scenario.
The suspension system, updated in the 2022 Panigale V4 and V4 S, is fully adjustable, with an Öhlins NPX25/30 fork with 4.9 inches of travel (0.2 inches more than the 2022 Panigale V4 R) and an Öhlins TTX36 shock. Other updates include a more aggressive profile of the intake cams to improve breathing at high revs and an aluminum tank capacity increase to 4.5 gallons.
Ducati offers a number of accessories for the Panigale V4, such as the Akrapovič titanium complete exhaust system, lighter magnesium rims, adjustable aluminum footpegs, and more.
The 2023 Ducati Panigale V4 R in MotoGP-derived racing livery will retail for $44,995 and is expected to arrive in dealerships in the spring of 2023. Visit Ducati’s website for more information.
I'm not sure what to make of a list of the best Western movies ever. If someone were to ask me what my favorite Western is, I'd probably say Blazing Saddles because I couldn't think of another. Also, if a movie had John Wayne or Clint Eastwood in it, it's hard to keep straight which one is which. For someone who has never been a fan of Westerns, I was surprised to realize how many of these 35 movies I've seen. That's purely because of the many years I've spent living with a man in possession of a remote control device, beginning with my father. I have to admit that some are pretty good, while there are quite a few I've not even heard of.
The list begins with the 1939 movie Stagecoach at #1. Don't let that throw you, because this is not a ranked list. The movies are presented in chronological order, with a trailer and description for each, at Mental Floss. Which movies have you seen that should have made the list and didn't? Blazing Saddles is not included.
Since we ditched the old shorter vats of breweries in favor of the new cylindrical fermentation tanks (which are taller, produce more beer, and are easier to clean), the quality of the beer we drink has reduced in terms of its taste. This reduced quality is caused by excess pressure from the carbon dioxide produced during fermentation. But it turns out we can make beer taste great again (or, at least, better), made possible through gene editing.
Researchers were able to identify in a "specific yeast strain" a single mutation in a gene, which was the source of the banana-like flavor and responsible for the pressure tolerance. Engineering the same mutation in other yeast strains resulted in said strains to better withstand carbon dioxide pressure.
Other strains could also be modified, it seems, and this could lead to better-tasting beers in the near future.
The authors' study is backed by a brewing company who wish to patent the use of the technology.
Opening October 19 at the Whitney Museum of American Art, Edward Hopper’s New York is a testament to the fungible and enduring nature of a city that's always exhilarating and often moody.
It has always seemed to me that any man is a better man for being a hunter. I have said that my hunting has often been solitary; but that was chiefly in the early days. During the last 25 years, I have rarely taken to the woods and fields in the shooting season without having…
Isamu Noguchi's iconic balancing act presented with a sleek black base.
A century’s worth of industrial operations has contaminated the site. The city must remediate the soil before moving forward.
